Before the 2017 American Music Awards, CR looks back at one of the most memorable, couple red carpet looks

By
Heather Rabkin

Nov 16, 2017

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Before celebrity duos were given mashed-up, supercouple nicknames there were simply it-couples. And on January 8, 2001 the most famous of them all—Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake—attended the American Music Awards in Canadian tuxedos, the likes of which sent shock waves down the red carpet. As Rolling Stone decreed at the time: It was “their own brand of formalwear.”

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The musicians had already been dating for two years at that point, and matching ensembles were a seemingly innocent, well-intentioned choice for the two 19-year-olds. Spears was nominated for two AMAs (Favorite Pop Artist and Favorite Pop Album), but lost both (to Faith Hill and Creed, respectively). Timberlake and his N’Sync cohorts were also nominated for two prizes, and while they nabbed Artist of the Year, ultimately they lost to Backstreet Boys for Favorite Pop Group. For the night, Spears wore a strapless patchwork denim gown replete with a bustier, studded statement choker and denim purse. Her BF matched her in a similarly hued light wash denim blazer, two-toned jeans and denim fedora.

Fast forward to the 2014 Video Music Awards, where Katy Perry paid a denim homage to the early aughts, tweeting “My outfit is a result of my love for nostalgia and my tumblr addiction.” She wore a Versace Couture denim gown. Her Timberlake? Rapper Riff Raff (and rumored beau at the time) in embellished sky-blue denim. She even got a stamp of approval from Spears herself, who tweeted the next dayy: “Just when I thought the denim dress had retired…you bring it back! You looked amazing tonight bb ;).”

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However, Timberlake doesn’t have as fond memories. In an interview last year he remarked, “If you wear denim-on-denim, it will get documented. You know what, I don’t think I could even bring that back.”

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